The twelve whom Jesus chose to carry on his mission after the Resurrection were not the obvious choices. They weren’t the movers and the shakers, those with power and influence. No, they were, in fact, uneducated, ordinary men at the authorities observed. What they experienced was that God was present in the life of Jesus. They… Read More »

There is a tendency in the human spirit to yearn for the “good old days.” We have the illusion that things back then were simpler, purer, better. We see this in the nostalgia for the 50s in certain political circles or in the attempt to restore the Latin Mass. The thinking seems to be that… Read More »

My father was a very kind person who seldom criticized others. The strongest thing I remember him calling someone was “a jabroney.” To this day I don’t know what a jabroney is but I know it’s not good. The way the apostles acted in the gospels — self-centered and clueless — would merit them being… Read More »

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way.” I want a burning heart. Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas had burning hearts on the road to Emmaus so why can’t I! It seems that they obtained a burning heart by giving up their expectations and instead trusting the plan of… Read More »

Mary Magdalene is called the “apostle to the apostles” because she was the first to proclaim the resurrection. Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,”  The reason that Mary was chosen as the first to receive the Easter revelation was exactly because she was a woman. Women did not have… Read More »

The resurrection stories recorded in the Gospel are all over the place because each Gospel writer tells us about the Risen Jesus to bring their particular communities to faith. One tradition shifts the focus off of the events in Jerusalem and onto Galilee. When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary he said, … Read More »

Don’t you love coming to Church on Easter Sunday morning! The colorful flowers are scattered everywhere. The sweet smell of the lilies fills the air. The bright banners are displayed. The congregation is wearing its finest clothing – and how about those Easter bonnets! How great it is to burst out in song after being… Read More »

Are you the kind of person that likes scary movies? I’m not – I never saw Jaws because that shark scared me. When I ask what is attractive about scary movies people explain that there is some kind of release in a fright that you know will end. Fear is, of course, a natural biological… Read More »

God can use anything, even the worst of things, for some good end. God used the slavery of the Hebrews in Egypt as the occasion to lead the people into freedom by crossing sea and desert. God used the defeat of Israel at the hand of the Philistines as the opportunity to raise up King… Read More »

How bizarre. On this day of all days, the day when we remember that Jesus gathered his disciples and for the first time broke the bread and shared the cup of his Body and Blood, on this day we cannot share as a community in receiving the Holy Eucharist. It feels unjust. Our situation reminded… Read More »